Electricity subsidy: Nepra to reply to plea against tariff hike

LAHORE:

The chief justice of the Lahore High Court on Thursday sought a reply from the federal government and National Electric and Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to a petition challenging the power tariff increase and unscheduled power cuts.

The petitioner submitted that the federal government had passed on the burden of increased prices to the consumer rather than minimising line losses in order to save money. He said that the reduction in the electricity subsidy violated Articles 9 (right to life), 14 (right to dignity), 18 (freedom of business), 23 (right to acquire property), 24 (protection of property) and 25 (equality for all) of the Constitution.

He asked the court to declare the tariff increase illegal and to order the government to publish details of line losses and electricity theft.

The chief justice adjourned the hearing for October 28.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2013.